Identifier: grandoperasinger02lahe (find matches)
Title: The grand opera singers of to-day : an account of the leading operatic stars who have sung during recent years, together with a sketch of the chief operatic enterprises
Year: 1912 (1910s)
Authors: Lahee, Henry Charles, 1856-1953
Subjects: Singers Opera
Publisher: Boston : L. C. Page
Contributing Library: Harold B. Lee Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Brigham Young University

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nomusical talent. Being thus repulsed, Mr. Martin remained inNaples and took lessons with Ben. Corelli, whotaught him enough to definitely fix his purpose.He next proceeded to Paris and became a pupilof Sbriglia, after which he returned to NewYork with the intention of teaching, since hecould not afford enough lessons to become asinger. At this point a wealthy citizen of New Yorkbecame interested in him and offered to see himthrough the preparation necessary for an oper-atic career. Martin returned to Sbriglia, buthe heard Caruso sing at the Sara BernhardtTheatre, and learned much from observation ofthat great artist. When prepared for his debut he was engagedat Nantes, and began his operatic career in Oc-tober, 1904, singing in Faust, which was hisonly role during the first season. An offer wasmade to him from Toulouse, but he declined itbecause he found that he was expected to singdramatic roles. An engagement in Italy now came to him andhe went to Verona and sang Ponchiellis u An-
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Copyright by Mishkin Studio, New York RICCARDO MARTIN The Metropolitan Opera-House 283 drea Chenier, repeating the performancenineteen times in one month. This gave hima reputation in Italy and he was invited to singthe same opera at the Del Verme Theatre inMilan. During a stay in New York he met HenryEussell, manager of the San Carlo Opera Com-pany, but declined the offer then made him,though when it was repeated in the followingyear on more satisfactory terms he accepted,and made his American debut in New Orleansduring the season of 1906-1907. Martin was asked to sing at the Metropoli-tan Opera-House by Conried, in the presence ofEichard Strauss, who offered him an engage-ment at Berlin. But it was not until 1908 thatMr. Martin became a member of the Metropoli-tan Company. The German importation for this season, inthe way of tenors, was Eric Schmedes, of whomone account said: Eric Schmedes brought tohearing a voice which possesses no charm what-ever. Some one has written that the si

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